Description

Introduction

At IBM Finance & Operations, we are the backbone of IBM's transformation driving efficiency, transparency, and smart decision-making across the business. Our teams provide the insight and discipline that guide strategy, ensure financial strength, and enable IBM to invest in innovation and growth. Working in Finance & Operations means combining analytical skills with collaboration and curiosity. You'll partner with colleagues across functions and geographies, using data, technology, and process excellence to create solutions that improve performance and deliver measurable impact. IBM offers continuous learning, career development, and a culture that values diverse perspectives. Join us and be part of a global team that keeps IBM moving forward, while building your own future in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Your role and responsibilities

IBM is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Leader with deep Professional Services experience (e.g. SOW, Contingent Workforce, and Managed/Outsourced Services). You will contribute to global category strategy, lead complex negotiations, and partner with senior stakeholders to deliver savings, risk reduction, supplier performance, and business outcomes. The role may include people leadership, driving a high‑performing team of sourcing professionals and elevating sourcing execution at scale.

Category Strategy & Delivery

• Develop and execute category strategies for Professional Services (Consulting/Advisory, SOW, Staff Augmentation, Managed Services) across T&M and Fixed‑Price engagement models.
• Lead end‑to‑end strategic sourcing and deal execution: market scans, RFI/RFP/RFQ, bid evaluation, supplier selection, and contracting in partnership with corporate stakeholders (BU, Legal, Finance, etc).
• Run high‑impact negotiations to optimize commercial terms, cash flow, SLAs, KPIs, and risk clauses (e.g., IP, data privacy, subcontracting).
• Consolidate demand, rationalize the supply base, and drive category compliance and adoption of preferred providers.

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Partner with senior leaders across the corporation to align sourcing outcomes to business needs.
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships; implement supplier performance management (QBRs, scorecards, continuous improvement plans).

Data, Risk & Operations

• Use sourcing and analytics tools to analyze spend, segment suppliers, model scenarios, and surface insights that guide decisions.
• Ensure compliance with policies and applicable regulations; manage the contract lifecycle from execution to renewals and change orders.
• Track and report performance against targets (savings, avoided cost, cycle time, etc).

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

Master's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• 710+ years in Strategic Sourcing/Category Management, with significant time in Professional Services (Consulting/Advisory, SOW, Staff Augmentation, Managed Services).
• Proven record leading complex negotiations and independently managing large‑scale sourcing projects.
• Strong stakeholder management and supplier relationship management skills; ability to influence senior leaders.
• Hands‑on with e‑sourcing/procurement tools (e.g., Ariba/SAP or similar) and comfort with analytics and dashboards.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Prior people‑management experience leading sourcing/procurement teams.
• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, Economics (or equivalent experience).
• Experience designing SOW frameworks, staffing rate cards, service catalogs, and performance‑based fee models.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

The IBM Finance organization is responsible for driving enterprise performance and transformation. We are the financial stewards of IBM, delivering IBM's financial strategy, developing new business models, and mitigating enterprise risk. Do you have a passion for creating business value? Join our team in accounting, financial planning, pricing, business controls, tax, treasury, business development (acquisitions & divestitures), and global financing.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

- Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being

- Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs

- Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law

- Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals

- Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

Job Title

Senior Sourcing Professional - Professional Services

Date posted

17-Jul-2026

Job ID

123521

City / Township / Village

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK

State / Province

North Carolina

Country

United States

Work arrangement

Hybrid

Area of work

Enterprise Operations

Employment type

Regular

Contract type

Regular

Projected Minimum Salary per year

148,000.00

Projected Maximum Salary per year

180,000.00

Position type

Professional

Travel required

Some travel may be required based on business demand

Company

(0147) International Business Machines Corporation

Shift

General (daytime)

Is this role a commissionable/sales incentive based position?

No



erp5z7ybl